Russian Media: Why is the U.S. Deploying the "Dark Eagle" Missile System to the Middle East?

Reference News Network reported on May 3 An article titled "Complex Hopes: Why the U.S. is Deploying Hypersonic Weapons to the Iranian Border" was published on the website of the Russian newspaper "Izvestia" on May 1. The content is summarized as follows:

The U.S. Central Command has requested the deployment of a batch of the latest "Dark Eagle" missile systems to the Middle East, capable of striking targets at extremely high speeds, leaving almost no reaction time for the enemy. Against the backdrop of dwindling sea-based and land-based missile reserves, Central Command hopes not only to replenish firepower but also plans to test this weapon, which can reach speeds of up to 17 Mach, in real combat for the first time. However, integrating the new missiles requires entirely new logistical support and a reconfiguration of the fire control system. What new capabilities will the appearance of the "Dark Eagle" bring to the U.S. in the East? What is the current status of the U.S. land-based missile arsenal?

The "Dark Eagle" (officially named "Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon" or LRHW) is the latest mobile missile system equipped with hypersonic missiles for conducting long-range precision strikes. The official range of the system's missiles is 2,775 kilometers, although many sources believe it to be 3,500 kilometers.

The main feature of the "Dark Eagle" is its C-HGB hypersonic glide warhead, which can reach speeds of 17 Mach. Currently, the system has only been released in a non-nuclear version. It kills targets through hypersonic speeds in the terminal ballistic phase and the fragmentation of the warhead. In terms of penetration and destructive power, the strike effect of the "Dark Eagle" can be compared to that of the concrete-penetrating "Tomahawk" cruise missile.

The hypersonic maneuverability makes it extremely difficult for modern air defense systems to intercept such targets, but since the "Dark Eagle" has not yet been used in conflict, it is more important for the Pentagon to test it in a real combat environment.

Currently, the U.S. military's operational capabilities are limited. Just recently, the first complete unit equipped with the "Dark Eagle"—the missile battery stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington—has only just completed its deployment. The second missile battery is not expected to be fully deployed until the end of 2026. Currently, Lockheed Martin's production of such missiles is only 1-2 units per month. Considering that the Pentagon's total ammunition stockpile is unlikely to exceed 25 units (each costing about $20 million), these missiles cannot be used for large-scale bombardment. They are a "golden weapon" for surgical strikes.

Nevertheless, the presence of the "Dark Eagle" in the Middle East changes the game. Its range covers all of Iran, not just its southern and western regions. The hypersonic speed of the "Dark Eagle" allows it to destroy enemy launchers in real-time—hitting almost immediately after detection, leaving no time for the enemy to withdraw.

The demand for hypersonic weapons is also related to the limitations of conventional weapons. The precision strike missile (PrSM) that the U.S. Army has deployed has a range of about 500 kilometers. In intense conflicts, such munitions are consumed rapidly.

Although the unit cost of PrSM is only one-tenth that of the "Dark Eagle" and can be launched in large quantities using the "HIMARS" system, its current model Increment-1 has limitations: it can only strike fixed targets and cannot hit moving targets. Meanwhile, the U.S. is actively expanding the mass production of "HIMARS" system munitions.

The Pentagon is also betting on modernization upgrades. For example, the Increment-2 version of PrSM, equipped with a multi-mode seeker for striking maritime targets, is currently being tested, but it will not begin delivery until at least 2028.

Additionally, there are plans to develop a version with enhanced warheads and double the range (up to 1,000 kilometers). This long-range missile may differ significantly from the classic PrSM baseline missile.

The main challenge currently facing Washington is production scale. Experiences from the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine indicate that thousands of missiles are consumed in modern warfare. The U.S. has set a goal of producing 1,600 PrSMs annually, but this currently seems more like an ambitious vision than a reality. Moreover, the production of other missiles and munitions also needs to be increased several times. The U.S. industrial base needs to significantly ramp up production capacity to meet military demands. Whether this industrial giant has enough strength to achieve such a leap will soon be revealed. (Translated by He Yingjun)